BELMONT, SARATOGA RACETRACK DISGRACE: BIRD KILLING ORDERED SO HORSES
CAN BE RACED TO THEIR DEATH

NEW YORK CITY, NY

JUNE 26, 2013 WESTCHESTER4GEESE has learned of a secret USDA
contract filed by the Belmont Racetrack, which will allow the killing of
geese and other birds at the track, to enable Belmont to exploit and
abuse racehorses without the 'nuisance' of birds flying about, which
they grotesquely label 'a direct threat to human safety.' In fact, the
origin of these purported 'threats' are owls, egrets, herons, seagulls
and cardinals - all killed viciously in the ongoing war on wildlife
conducted by the USDA and Fish and Wildlife 'Services,' a bizarre
pseudonym for what is little more than an agency that advocates rampant,
unchecked slaughter of wildlife. Why is a racetrack being allowed to
kill birds? One assumes that the oblivious track-going public is
troubled by the presence of the birds, who obscure their view of horses
with metal plates forced into their mouths while being whipped and
drugged to make them run faster.

A Freedom of Information Act
(FIOA) document provided to us on June 23, 2013, reveals that there are
13 locales in the Long Island and New York City area that have been
happily granted contracts to kill Canada geese by the USDA, despite
these birds' federally-protected status; and that, in addition, the
USDA has shamefully allowed two racetracks, Belmont and Saratoga, to
kill their avian neighbors...so they can go on abusing and exploiting
horses without the 'threat' of birds flying while they beat horses to
make them win money, showing that there is no species who garners mercy
from the racetrack purveyors.

The horseracing industry is rife
with scandal, drug abuse, injuries, race-fixing and coverups; whenever
you have a business that makes huge sums of money from those who have no
voice, misdeeds are too easily 'overlooked.' These animals are overbred
and forced to run on legs that are under-developed; the rest go to
auction and slaughterhouses: It costs money to send them 'to pasture,'
which cuts into profits. The Churchill Downs website lists an
astonishing number of per-week injuries to racehorses. Rick Dutrow,
trainer of Derby Winner Big Brown, openly admits to giving his horses a
steroid that is illegal in many states, though, interestingly, not in
the three that host the Triple Crown. Even the conservative Readers
Digest ran an expose of this industry several years ago. Animals break
bones, collapse, and die at racetracks. How ironic that now the birds
in the air will die too - for the same greed, avarice and vicious
brutality that drives this 'sport' which should be banned outright.

Westchester4Geese founder Kiley Blackman said, 'These needless,
cruel slaughters are an unmitigated disgrace and the USDA needs to be
investigated. We demand to know why a race track is granted a permit to
kill birds; this is an outrage against decency and makes us into
nothing more than savages. Thus far we have been lied to repeatedly by
the USDA, who makes millions off the killing of wildlife, who
perpetuates the lie about 'health hazards' of geese droppings despite
the fact that there isn't one single case of anyone being sickened by
them...who perpetuates the lie that geese must be killed to 'prevent'
strikes on planes despite the fact that planes are hit by lightening
more than by birds and ignoring pilot error and technological advances
being used in other countries which would preclude the supposed 'need'
for 'culling.' The USDA will make a pretty penny off these illegal
killings...and decent citizens deserve answers for why this is allowed.'

Richard Brummel, founder of Planet In Peril, whose efforts brought
the secret killings to light, added, 'Our wildlife share this state and
this planet. These birds targeted for killing across Long Island and New
York State -- including over 6,000 Canada geese and over 3,000 other
birds (including owls, egrets, ducks, sparrows, woodpeckers, hawks,
and dozens of other species) -- are a vital, beautiful part of our
environment and have a right to raise their families in peace. They are
also sensitive living creatures that the state should not be killing for
any reason, let alone at a racetrack's request.'

A comprehensive
list of kill permits issued to L.I. and NYC venues appears below;
original documents upon request: